Introduction to Functions

1. Introduction to Functions Intro to Computer Science CS1510 Dr. Sarah Diesburg

2. Assorted Topics • Issues about reading files? • Questions about the HW assignment due Monday

3. Review • So far, most of our programs have retrieved data from the keyboard and written data to the screen • Data must be entered on every program run • Programs have no way to write permanent output • Text files provide convenient input/output storage • e.g. programs can read configuration data or input files to process, and can write output to files

4. Question #1 • A program is designed to retrieve some data from a file, process it, and output the revised data to another file. Which of the following functions/methods will not be called in the program? • A. open • B. A loop or method for reading (e.g. read) • C. write • D. close • E. All should be called

5. Review • Several methods for reading text from files: • readline: reads and returns next line; returns empty string at end-of-file • read: reads the entire file into one string • readlines: reads the entire file into a list of strings • All of these leave a trailing '\n' character at the end of each line.

6. Review • A file is a sequence of lines. Can be read with a for-loop f = open(‘data.txt‘,”r”) for line in f: print(line.strip()) • …or using a while-loop: f = open(‘data.txt‘,”r”) line = f.readline() while line: print(line.strip()) line = f.readline()

7. Question #2 – What is the last thing printed? data.txt program line = f.readline() line = f.readline() while line.startswith('#'): line = f.readline() print(f.readline()) Reading Assignments #Each line lists the reading #assignment for that date Sep, 17, Section 1.1-1.3 Sep, 19, Section 1.4-1.8 Sep, 21, Section 2.1-2.4

8. Question #3 – What is the last thing printed? data.txt program line = f.readline() line = f.readline() while line.startswith('#'): line = f.readline() print( line ) Reading Assignments #Each line lists the reading #assignment for that date Sep, 17, Section 1.1-1.3 Sep, 19, Section 1.4-1.8 Sep, 21, Section 2.1-2.4

9. What is a Function?

10. Functions • From mathematics we know that functions perform some operation and return one value. • They “encapsulate” the performance of some particular operation, so it can be used by others (for example, the len() function).

11. Why Have Them? • Abstraction of an operation • Reuse: once written, use again • Sharing: if tested, others can use • Security: if well tested, then secure for reuse • Simplify code: more readable • Support divide-and-conquer strategy

12. Mathematical Notation • Consider a function which converts temperatures in Celsius to temperatures in Fahrenheit: • Formula: F = C * 1.8 + 32.0 • Functional notation: F = celsisus2Fahrenheit(C) where celsius2Fahrenheit(C) = C*1.8 + 32.0

13. Python Invocation • Math: F= celsius2Fahrenheit(C) • Python, the invocation is much the same F = celsius2Fahrenheit(C) Terminology: argument “C”

14. Function Definition • Math: g(C) = C*1.8 + 32.0 • Python def celsius2Fahrenheit (C): return C*1.8 + 32.0 • Terminology: parameter “C”

16. Return Statement • The return statement indicates the value that is returned by the function. • The statement is optional (the function can return nothing). If no return, the function is often called a procedure.

17. Code Listing 6.1 • Temp Convert

18. Code Listing 6.1 # Temperature conversion def celsius2fahrenheit(celsius): """ Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit.""" return celsius*1.8 + 32

19. Triple Quoted String in Function • A triple quoted string just after the def is called a docstring • docstring is documentation of the function’s purpose, to be used by other tools to tell the user what the function is used for.

20. Operation 1. Call copies argument C to parameter celsius F = celsius2Fahrenheit(C) 2. Control transfers to function “celsius2Farenheit” def celsius2Fahrenheit (celsius): return celsius*1.8 + 32.0

21. Operation (con’t) F = celsius2Fahrenheit(C) 3. Expression in celsius2Farenheit is evaluated 4. Value of expression is returned to the invoker def celsius2Fahrenheit (celsius): return celsius*1.8 + 32.0

23. Code Listing 6.3 • Implement len

24. Code Listing 6.3 def length(S): """Return the length of S.""" count = 0 for s in S: count += 1 return count

25. Code Listing 6.4 • Count Letters in String

26. Check Membership in lowercase • import string • use string.lowercase, string of lowercase • ‘abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz’ • check if each letter is a member (using the in operator) of string.lowercase

27. Code Listing 6.4 import string def letterCount(S): """Return the count of letters in S.""" count = 0 for s in S: if s.lower() in string.ascii_lowercase: count += 1 return count

28. How to Write a Function • Does one thing. If it does too many things, it should be broken down into multiple functions (refactored). • Readable. How often should we say this? If you write it, it should be readable. • Reusable. If it does one thing well, then when a similar situation (in another program) occurs, use it there as well.

29. More on Functions • Complete. A function should check for all the cases where it might be invoked. Check for potential errors. • Not too long. Kind of synonymous with “does one thing”. Use it as a measure of doing too much.

30. Procedures • Functions that have no return statements are often called procedures. • Procedures are used to perform some duty (print output, store a file, etc.) • Remember, return is not required.

31. Multiple Returns in a Function • A function can have multiple return statements. • Remember, the first return statement executed ends the function. • Multiple returns can be confusing to the reader and should be used judiciously.